Types of Immunity & Vaccination Flashcards
What is passive immunity?
The introduction of antibodies from an outside source, e.g breast feeding. Own antibodies aren’t produced, no memory cells from, not long lasting immunity.
What is active immunity?
Stimulated antibody production from an individual immune system, required direct contact with an antigen.
What is natural active immunity?
An individual is naturally exposed to a pathogen.
What is artificial immunity?
Inducing an immune system without causing symptoms. A vaccine.
What is herd immunity?
People that are Immunocompromised/ can’t get the vaccine relying on the majority of the population being vaccinated to not get the disease. The higher the percentage of the population vaccinated, the less the risk of an epidemic. Children being vaccinated depends on the possibility of side effects and effectiveness of vaccine.
What is a vaccine?
Contains dead/ weakened antigens from a specific pathogen. The injection stimulates an immune response and B cells release the specific antibody. Some b cells divide to form memory cells which provide future protection.
What are the features of a successful vaccination programme?
1) Sufficient quantities to immunise most of vulnerable people and produce herd immunity
2) Few side-effects
3) Means of storing/ producing/ transporting. Requires hygienic conditions & advanced tech
4) Trained administrators
What are the 6 reasons that vaccines can’t usually eliminate a disease?
1) Fail to induce immunity in select individuals
2) Individuals may develop the disease before their immunity levels are high to prevent it and could spread it.
3) Antigenic variability
4) Too many varieties of pathogen that one vaccine to fight all is impossible
5) Pathogens can hide from immune system in intestines
6) Individuals may have objections to vaccine because of religious or moral/ ethical reasons.
What are the ethical issues associated with using vaccines?
1) Often involves the use of animals
2) Side-effects cause long-term harm
3) To be fully effective, mostly all population should be vaccinated
4) Should expensive programmes continue when the disease is almost eradicated even though it might mean less money for other disease treatment?
What are the 5 questions that balance the risk of side effects against the benefits?
1) Who should they be tested on?
2) What level of risk is acceptable?
3) Is it acceptable to trial the vaccine in a country where it’s common on the basis they have more to gain if it works?
4) Should it be compulsory or can people opt out?
5) Should the programme continue if the disease is almost eradicated?
